Orphans and widows in the bible – God’s love for orphans and widows is seen throughout the bible. Find out God’s heart for orphans, an explanation of the types of widows mentioned in the bible, particularly the one that caught Jesus’ heart, and how you can be a blessing to them from God.

What are orphans and widows (osw’s) in the bible? The Bible uses the word “orphans” to describe those who are alone, for whatever reason. Sometimes, it’s as a result of death, like when Abraham was reluctant to follow God’s command to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22:1). Others times it is through divorce or abandonment. In Matthew 12:47-50 we read of the tears of men and women who have been left by their families because they have made Jesus Christ their Lord.

Right here on Churchgist, you are privy to a litany of relevant information on famous orphans in the bible,spiritual orphans in the bible, and so much more. Take out time to visit our catalog for more information on similar topics.

The bible explicitly cares at length about orphans and widows. This is evident when you look at the numerous verses which talk about them, and even stories (like the story of the good samaritan) which revolve around them. [Editors note: always have a bible verse or story to back up your claims.]

Orphans and widows have been mentioned in the Bible since the beginning. In the book of Genesis, Abraham’s nephew Lot was an orphan, as his mother had died and his father had moved out of town. In Exodus, Moses’ father-in-law Jethro brought him back to Egypt after learning that he was an orphan. The book of Judges also mentions mothers who have lost their children, including one woman named Jael who killed Sisera by driving a tent peg through his head. These examples show that orphans and widows were seen as vulnerable people who needed special care from others around them.

In the New Testament, Jesus often spoke about caring for those who were vulnerable: “For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you welcomed me; naked and you clothed me; sick and you visited me; or in prison and you came to see me.” (Matthew 25:35-36)

The Bible is full of examples of how orphans and widows are treated in the Bible. God shows his love for these people through his actions, but also through the actions of his followers.

The first time we see this is when Abraham receives God’s command to sacrifice Isaac. The Lord tells him to stop because he has already provided a sacrifice—a lamb (Genesis 22:8). This lamb would have been used as an offering for the sins of others, but it was instead given up by Abraham in order to save his son’s life.

The second example comes from Moses’ time while he was leading the Israelites out of Egypt. After they were attacked by Amalekites, Moses tells Joshua to lead them into battle against their enemies while he stays behind on Mount Sinai with God (Exodus 17:9-11). When Joshua returns victorious from battle with great spoils, Moses gives all the credit for their victory to God because he himself did nothing (Exodus 18:5).

Another example comes from when David wants Bathsheba for himself after seeing her bathing on her rooftop one evening (2 Samuel 11:2-4). He sends Uriah home from battle early so that Bathsheba will be

Orphans and widows in the bible

Orphans and widows in Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 14:28-29

You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your brethren or one of the sojourners who are in your land within your towns; you shall give him his hire every day before the sun goes down, and he shall eat it; for it is his food. Do not take advantage of any widow or fatherless child.

Deuteronomy 24:17-21

“When a man sells a dwelling house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it has been sold; yet a house in the open country may be redeemed within a year after it has been sold. If one who dwells among you becomes poor, and his means fail with regard to him, then he may be sold to one of you who will support him as a slave; if there are enough men present at the time when such an action must be taken in order that they can carry out this procedure according to these rules, then those concerned with taking care of such matters shall select someone else from the family whose turn has come round first (instead). Then this person’s brother shall go outside with him and tell him: ‘It was my right to redeem you today.’ After which he will have no right over anyone else until next year’s festival comes around.” This passage also relates back to Deut. 15:12-18 regarding loans made by fellow Israelites without collateral (silver).

Orphans and widows in Psalms

The Bible contains numerous passages about orphans and widows. Psalm 68:5, for example, states that God will “raise up the poor from the dust…lift up the needy from the ash heap;” Psalm 94:6 reads, “All your offerings are acceptable; my aroma is pleasing to me.” In Psalm 146:9 we read that “the Lord watches over [the widow] and upholds her life; he nourishes her with kindness.”

Orphans and widows in Isaiah

Isaiah 1:17 “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.”

Isaiah 1:23 “Your rulers are companions of thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the orphan, nor does the widow’s plea come before them.”

Isaiah 10:2 (NKJV) “In that day,” declares the LORD, “I will assemble her who is lame and gather those who were driven away and those whom I have afflicted.

Orphans and widows in Jeremiah

God is the Defender of the fatherless and the widow. Verse 6: “The LORD said, ‘I have heard the plea of the Israelites regarding their captivity and will restore them to this land.” Verses 7-8: “And I will bring them back to this land. And I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them.” Verses 9-10: “I am aware of what they have endured; they have suffered in my presence like a woman giving birth.”

The Lord would defend the cause of orphans and widows. Verse 13: “For I am God, who hears prayer; do not be afraid before me,” says the Lord Almighty (YHWH).

God would speak for those who had no one else to speak for them as orphans and widows

Orphans and widows in Matthew

Orphans and widows are often mentioned in the Bible. Here’s some context:

• James 1:27 – “Pure religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”
• Matthew 25:35-40 – “For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; sick, and you visited Me… As long as one of these remains alive on earth…the Son of Man will not come.”
• Matthew 23:14 – “Woe unto you scribes! For ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves nor suffer ye them that are entering to go in! You devour widows’ houses through Your exactions.”
• Matthew 19:21 – Then Jesus said unto him,”If thou wilt be perfect go sell what thou hast…” And when the young man heard that saying he went away sorrowful… For this cause many are weak among Christians because they seek not eternal life but rather temporal things like gold or silver or clothing which is why we see so many impoverished Christians today.”
• Matthew 27:48-56 – “And immediately an earthquake occurred such as never occurred since men were on earth so mighty an earthquake god himself indeed could not have made one more powerful than this no mountain split apart pebbles were thrown down by its force mountains were shaken so badly that huge rocks became detached from them at once rocks were hurled into air falling upon those who lived there below destroying everything within reach.”

Orphans and widows in James

The book of James tells us that God has a special place in his heart for the fatherless and the widow, and so should we. The Bible tells us that it is our duty as Christians to care for these people who may have no one else to turn to.

James 1:27 says: “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, And to keep himself unspotted from the world.”

James 2:1-7 gives examples of how we are supposed to treat those less fortunate than ourselves using some colorful metaphors! He says if you have clothes but don’t give them away when someone asks you needlessly; then your faith is worthless. If you say one thing but do another with your words; then your faith is dead (dead faith). If someone comes into your house with no coat on while it’s cold outside or without shoes on while it’s raining…wouldn’t you give them whatever they needed? Can’t we follow this example? We all have been given gifts by our Creator—what will you do with yours?

God has a heart for orphans and widows.

God has a heart for orphans and widows. As the Bible says, “He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow” (Psalm 82:3). God’s commands to care for orphans and widows are found throughout Scripture.

For example, in Deuteronomy 24:17-18 we read: “Do not take interest from him or increase his debt at all, but let your money stay with him until he pays back what he owes you; then do not demand any more from him.” In Deuteronomy 15:7–8 we read: “If a fellow Hebrew has sold himself to you and is serving you six years, in the seventh year you must let him go free—he cannot be sold as a slave again—because such people have been dear to you. And when you release them they will leave with joy and praise your name! You shall not take as collateral any garment worn by your brother’s wife in pledge [that she may pawn it]. You shall keep it safe until her husband gets home; then return it to him so that he will not be ashamed because she has been stripped of clothing while living with another man” (New International Version). Then there are many verses in Matthew 5–10 where Jesus taught us how important our treatment of widows was to God; He even told His followers that He would treat them according as they treated those who were destitute or had no one else on whom they could depend (Matthew 25:31-46).